Multi picture frame view.

A place for people to discuss future hardware and software product news
Post Reply
geriakt
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2022 8:42 am
x 2

Multi picture frame view.

Post by geriakt »

Since we have 4 tuners in the Flex 4k, it would be nice if the client app could watch 2, 3, or 4 channels at the same time in a multi window for sports and just highlight the picture box for the sound you want to hear.

Can this be considered for a future client player update?

leerandall
Posts: 1007
Joined: Sat Mar 16, 2013 5:49 pm
Device ID: 131102D9, 1326E147
x 3

Re: Multi picture frame view.

Post by leerandall »

This can actually be done now, but only in Windows, by running multiple instances of the HDHR app. The downside, however, is that you have to manage which window is playing audio, by muting all instances of the app except the one for which you want to hear the audio.

nickk
Silicondust
Posts: 21136
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 9:39 am
x 426

Re: Multi picture frame view.

Post by nickk »

What screen layout are you thinking for 2 playback sessions?

geriakt
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2022 8:42 am
x 2

Re: Multi picture frame view.

Post by geriakt »

nickk wrote: Thu Aug 13, 2026 2:50 pm What screen layout are you thinking for 2 playback sessions?
I think a minimum two channels screens side by side in a window box with borders top and bottom to maintain 16:9. And upto 4 screens taking up each corner. A highlight around the frame would be the screen with sound. All windows available to either and mix of ATSC 1.0 and 3.0.
Great for football

I use my Flex 4k on a 65 inch 4k TV using an android STB for the client. My computer is also connected to the tv, but I prefer using my TV CEC remote to navigate the android client over a phone BT remote or a BT keyboard/trackball for the computer. I have been doing OTA TV for 25 years with homemade HTPCs. I did have the Sunday Ticket for a while and their app allowed the multi screen.
Tom

jasonl
Silicondust
Posts: 17881
Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2007 9:23 pm
x 107

Re: Multi picture frame view.

Post by jasonl »

Sunday Ticket and other services that have multiview options on Android TV don't actually support multiple separate video streams. Instead, they pre-select combinations of games and encode them together into a single video stream and have the app play that, then just do some magic to let the app switch between audio tracks. This is much different than the true multiview that is possible on Apple TV, where apps like ESPN will let you play up to 4 arbitrary live streams. This is most evident on like a Saturday afternoon in the fall; on Android TV your multiview options will only ever be events from the same sport (and no choice of home/away broadcasts on hockey, for example), while on Apple TV you can easily put on a college football game, a soccer game, a hockey game, and golf.

Cabal
Posts: 357
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:53 pm
x 79

Re: Multi picture frame view.

Post by Cabal »

There are already open source apps that do this for Android TV using the HDHomeRun as a source. I won't link them because I don't think that's allowed.

I would be very interested in being able to combine 2, 3, or 4 videos, with the ability to toggle sound between them, and optionally to adjust cropping on 2- or 3-view. For football, of course.

geriakt
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2022 8:42 am
x 2

Re: Multi picture frame view.

Post by geriakt »

Cabal wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2026 6:28 am There are already open source apps that do this for Android TV using the HDHomeRun as a source. I won't link them because I don't think that's allowed.

I would be very interested in being able to combine 2, 3, or 4 videos, with the ability to toggle sound between them, and optionally to adjust cropping on 2- or 3-view. For football, of course.
I am aware of an android app that works with HDHOMERUN that does this very well, however to play within the rules I will not list it out. I would prefer to stay within the SiliconDust realm for a few reasons. 1) I am considering moving my Schedules Direct subscription to a SiliconDust EPG/DVR subscription. 2) with hopes that SiliconDust will get A3SA approval for ATSC 3.0 DRM I will need to stick with the HDHOMERUN Client player to have it all work.

The other apps multi view works great, but based on future proofing I want to stick with SiliconDust.

Cabal
Posts: 357
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:53 pm
x 79

Re: Multi picture frame view.

Post by Cabal »

geriakt wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2026 7:15 am
Cabal wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2026 6:28 am There are already open source apps that do this for Android TV using the HDHomeRun as a source. I won't link them because I don't think that's allowed.

I would be very interested in being able to combine 2, 3, or 4 videos, with the ability to toggle sound between them, and optionally to adjust cropping on 2- or 3-view. For football, of course.
I am aware of an android app that works with HDHOMERUN that does this very well, however to play within the rules I will not list it out. I would prefer to stay within the SiliconDust realm for a few reasons. 1) I am considering moving my Schedules Direct subscription to a SiliconDust EPG/DVR subscription. 2) with hopes that SiliconDust will get A3SA approval for ATSC 3.0 DRM I will need to stick with the HDHOMERUN Client player to have it all work.

The other apps multi view works great, but based on future proofing I want to stick with SiliconDust.
Same, in case I didn't make that clear.

geriakt
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2022 8:42 am
x 2

Re: Multi picture frame view.

Post by geriakt »

Cabal wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2026 7:17 am
geriakt wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2026 7:15 am
Cabal wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2026 6:28 am There are already open source apps that do this for Android TV using the HDHomeRun as a source. I won't link them because I don't think that's allowed.

I would be very interested in being able to combine 2, 3, or 4 videos, with the ability to toggle sound between them, and optionally to adjust cropping on 2- or 3-view. For football, of course.
I am aware of an android app that works with HDHOMERUN that does this very well, however to play within the rules I will not list it out. I would prefer to stay within the SiliconDust realm for a few reasons. 1) I am considering moving my Schedules Direct subscription to a SiliconDust EPG/DVR subscription. 2) with hopes that SiliconDust will get A3SA approval for ATSC 3.0 DRM I will need to stick with the HDHOMERUN Client player to have it all work.

The other apps multi view works great, but based on future proofing I want to stick with SiliconDust.
Same, in case I didn't make that clear.
Yes you did but I wanted to post for others as well as admin for my reasons to improve the HDHOMERUN app.

Post Reply